Gaseous fuel burner



May 25, 1948. I I SQLEM 2,442,062

GASEOUS FUEL BURNER Filed June 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25, 1948. R. SQLEM 2,442,062

GASEOUS FUEL BURNER Filed June 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flog/2%- YPatented May 25, 1948 GASEOUS BURNER Robert H. Solem, Rockford, 111., assignor to Eclipse Fuel Engineering 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 27, 1945, Serial No. 601,745

I 3 Claims.

1 The present invention relates generally to gaseous fuel burners. More particularly the invention relates to that type of burner which comprises a water jacketed tube, means for supplying a ;mixture of gaseous fuel under pressure to one end of the tube, and means for circulating water through the jacket for tube cooling purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a burner of this type having novel means for automatically preventing the supply of gaseous fuel under pressure to the tube in the event there ,is a failure of the supply of water to the water jacket around the tube.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present 1v aseous fuel burner will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are ;more particularly defined by claims at the conclu- :sion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view showing a gaseous fuel burner embodying the invention in operative relation with a Bessemer converter;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the burner;

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken, respectively, on the lines 3--3 and 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the pressure switch constituting part of the means for automatically preventing the supply of gaseous fuel under pressure to the tube in the event there is a failure of a supply of water to the water jacket around the tube.

The gaseous fuel burner which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or em- ,bodiment of the invention. It is designed primarily as a preheating medium or instrumental- ;ity for a Bessemer converter C and comprises an elongated tube 5. The converter C is of standard or conventional design and. embodies a metallic receptacle 0 having a refractory lining 0 The receptacle has a mouth at the upper end thereof and is adapted to receive a charge of molten iron,

as well understood in the art. It is illustrated The tube 5 is adapted in connection with use of the burner to extend downwards through the mouth of the converter receptacle 0 into the receptacle interior, as shown in Figure 1. It is of such length that when it is in its operative position the lower end thereof terminates adjacent the bottom of the receptacle. The lower or discharge end of the tube is provided with a nozale 8. The upper or receiving end of the tube is connected by a conduit l to receive a mixture of gas and air under pressure from a compressor 3. The latter is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing as being of the centrifugal type and constitutes a source for supplying a mixture of gas and air under pressure to the tube 5 for discharge via the nozzle 6. It is mounted on a fixed platform 9 adjacent the Bessemer converter C and consists of a volute casing iii and a rotor (not shown). The casing has a central inlet H at one side thereof and embodies a tangential outlet 12. The rotor of the compressor is driven by an electric motor l3 and this is located adjacent the other side of the compressor casing and is suitably mounted on the platform 9. The armature shaft of the motor extends through said other side of the compressor casing and is connected to the hub of the rotor. The inlet of the casing of the compressor is connected by a pipe [4 to an appa ratus I? for proportionally mixing gas and air. Such apparatus is preferably of the type which is shown in, and forms the subject matter of, United States Letters Patent No. 2,963,453, granted to Garret W. McKee on'December 8, 1936. It comprises a vertically extending cylindrical housing it having a gas and air mixing chamber ll in the central portion thereof. The pipe i5 communicates with this chamber. Air under atmospheric pressure is admitted into the mixing chamber by way of a valve controlled orifice in a' plate [8 at the bottom of the housing. Gas is introduced into the mixing chamber by way of a pipe 19. Such pipe is connected to receive manufactured or natural gas under pressure from any suitable sourceand includes a zero governor Zil for re ducing the gas to atmospheric pressure prior to entry into the mixing chamber il. When the compressor Bis in operation it draws a mixture of gas and air from the mixing chamber I! in the apparatus I5 and supplies the mixture under pressure to the tube 5 via the conduit 1. The latter comprises a pipe 2| which is connected to, and leads from, the outlet 12 of the compressor casin ID, a pipe fitting 22 at the upper or receiving end of the burner tube 5, and a flexible hose 23. The hose, as shown in Figure 1, extendsbeably mounted in, this socket.

5. tion, The upper ends of the pipes 41 extend through holes in the upper end wall 3| of the water jacket 28 and are connected to, and communicate'with, the header 46. The lower ends of the pipes 41 extend through holes 52 in the lower end wall 30 of the water jacket and terminate adjacent said lower end wall. When the burner is in operation air under pressure flows into the header 46 via the pipe fitting 43, the hose 5|) and the inlet pipe 49 and then fiows into and through the pipes 41 and is discharged adjacent the central hole 33 in the lower end wall 33 of the water jacket 28. The secondary air emanating from the lower ends of the pipes 41 serves to complete combustion.

A supporting structure 53 serves as a medium for supporting the burner when the latter is in or out of its operative position with respect to the Bessemer converter C. This structure is portable and comprises a caster equipped truck 54, a standard 55 on the truck and an upwardly inclined arm 56 at the upper end of the standard. The outer end of the arm 56 is shaped to form a socket 51. The burner extends through, and is slid- A set screw 53 extends through the socket defining portion of the arm 56 and serves releasably to hold the burner in the various positions into which it is slid or shifted. When the burner is to be used the supporting structure is moved into a position wherein it is disposed adjacent the Bessemer converter C and the arm 56 overlies the mouth of the converter receptacle. The set screw 58 is then loosened'and the burner is shifted downwards into its operative position wherein it extends through the mouth of the converter receptacle and the lower end thereof is disposed adjacent the bottom of the receptacle. As soon as the burner is shifted into place the set screw 58 is tightened so as to lock the burner against axial displacement relatively to the socket 31. After the burner has served its purpose as a preheating medium for the converter C the set screw 58 is loosened and the burner is slid upwards until the lower end thereof is disposed in the socket 51. Thereafter the set screw 53 is tightened and the supporting structure 53 is shifted away from the converter to some other location. The flexible hoses 23, 4|, 45 and 56 permit shift of the burner as hereinbefore pointed out.

In order automatically to prevent delivery or supply of the mixture of gas and air under pressure to the tube 5 in the event that there is a failure of the supply of water under pressure to the water jacket 28 a pressure switch 53 and a solenoid valve Bilare provided. The switch, as hereinafter, described, is in circuit with the electric motor l3 for driving the rotor of the compressor 8. The pressure switch 59 comprises a T fitting 6|, a spring compressed bellows 62, and a switch 63. The end branches of the T fitting 6| are included in, and form a part of, the pipe 39 which leads from the source of water under pressure to the flexible hose 38. The bellows 62 is connected to the central branch of the T fitting BI and is adapted when water under pressure flows through the T fitting, to expand against the force of its spring. When the flow of water under pressure through the fitting 6| stops or the water flowing through the fitting drops to a predetermined pressure the bellows collapses. The switch 63 comprises a fixed contact 64 and a contact 65. The last mentioned contact is mounted on the bellows 62 and is adapted when the bellows is expanded to move into engagement with the fixed contact 64 and thus effect closing of the switch 63. The solenoid valve 60 is a normally closed valve and is included in the gas supply pipe l9 ahead of the zero governor 20. Itcomprises a casing 66 having in the interior thereof a partition 61 with a valve seat 68 therein. It also comprises a vertically movable valve: member 63 which is urged downwards into seatedrelation with the seat either by gravity or a spring. The solenoid part of the solenoid valve 6|] comprises a. coil 10 and a vertically movable armature 1|. The valve member 69 is applied to the lower end of the armature. When the: solenoid part of the solenoid valve 60 is energrized the armature 1| is retracted and shifts the: valve member 69 upwards into its open position. When the solenoid part of the valve is deenergized the armature 1| moves downwards and effects closing of the valve member 69 The elec tric motor 13 and the coil of the solenoid part of the valve 63 are supplied with current from a pair of terminals 12 and 13 under control of the automatic pressure switch 59..--The terminals are connected by line conductors to a source of current supply, A conductor 14 leads from the terminal 12 to the fixed contact 64 of the switch 59 and includes a master switch 15. A conductor 16 leads from the movable contact 65 of the pressure switch 53 and includes a branch 16 leading to one of the terminals of the electric motor i3 and a branch 16 leading to one end of the coil 19 of the solenoid part of the solenoid valve 65. A conductor 11 is connected to, and extends between, the other terminal of the electric motor and the terminal 13. The other end of the coil '56 is connected to said terminal 13 by way of a conductor 16. Because of the arrangement of the conductors the motor i3 and the coil 10 01' the solenoid valve are in parallel, When the switches 63 and 15 are closed the following circuit is established; terminal 12, conductor 14, switch 63, conductor 16, branch 16, electric mo-- tor l3, conductor 11, branch 16 coil 10, conductor 13 and terminal 13. When this circuit; is established the motor |3 is set in operation and the solenoid valve 66 is caused to open, As; soon as the motor I3 starts and the solenoid valve 65 opens the compressor 8 operates to deliver a, mixture of gas and air under pressure to the burner tube 5. In the event of failure of supply of water under pressure to the jacket 28 during operation of the burner the pressure switch 59 opens and automatically breaks the aforementioned circuit. When the circuit is broken the compressor 8 stops and the solenoid valve 66 closes. As the result of the action of the pres sure switch 53 there can be no feed or supply of gas and air under pressure to the burner tube in the event of failureof the supply or delivery of water under pressure to the water jacket 28.

When it is desired to use the burner for converter heating purposes the supporting structure 53 is shifted into a position wherein it is disposed adjacent the converter and the arm 56 overhangs the mouth of the receptacle. After this operation the operator arranges for the suP ply of water under pressure to the pipe 35 and the supply of air under pressure to the pipe fitting 48. Thereafter the switch 15 is closed so as to start the electric motor l3 and cause the compressor 8 to supply a mixture of gas andair under pressure to the burner tube 5. As soon as the compressor is set into operation the burner, while in its up or inoperative position, is ignited. After igniting;

h 15 i ete -te i eniae me of.- the 91; rte neceptae1e..untii the i idismse a a e t. the bottom. at the, le. 'Q-he .lour-ner. is allowed; to.

operate until, the onrert r s preheated. to. th

converter C has been, preheatedto the. desired extent the. burner is stopped and isthen-slid pmardscout of. the converter receptacle.

The{hereinx descrihedgaseous.fuel. burner. el fectively and. eiliciently. fulfills its intended. purpose and; is characterized. by simplicity'ofdesign and:..iong.1ife. Itis readilymovable. from place toplaceand is not iikelyto burn out as aresult of cooling which is. effected .byccirculationof water through thejacket 23.

Whereas the. burnerhas been described asbeing. primarily designed for-use in preheating a Bessemer, converter it is. wise understood; that it hasmanyother. capabilities of use. It is also to beunderstood that the invention isnot-tobe-re striated; tothe detailsset 'for-th since these may bel'modified. withincthe scope ofthe appended claims ..without departing from the; spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is a division of that filed" by me on April 30, 1943; Seria1-N0.485,095

Having thusv described the invention what I- clairn as new and desire to secure by Letters Plat ent is: i

l. A- heating apparatuscomprising in combinationa Water-jacketed gaseous fuel-burner, means for supplying a mixture offgaseous fuel-under pressure to said burner, including a compressor and-an electric motor for driving the cornpressqr, means ion-circulating water through the water. jacket of theburnerjincluding inlet andputletconnections lea'giingto and-from the jacket; r e specti've'ly, andmeans for automatically renclering the supply means inoperative upon' fail ure of the circulating means; "said automatic means embodying} pressure switch coiisistiirrghoifa pressure responsive partconnected to, and'respon'sive to variations in the press re :the water in; one of the connections andfa switch part connected-to he actuate ci by thepressure responsive'part and arranged in circuit ivitii theniotpr, 60

v2.'A heating. appa.ratus nation. a .water' jacketed gaseous fuel' bumer; means for supplying a..-. m-ixture. ofgaseous-fuel under pressure to. the burner, including=-- a pipe having a solenoid .valvethereim meansiora eir.

pressure switch consisting:of a-qsressure-respom: 1 sive. partconnectecl to,- and responsive tame.- tions in the-pressure of: theswater-in one'of the-' connections and a switch part conneeted to beactuated-by the pressure .responsire -parfi ami arranged in. circuit the solenoidg panteoiltithe solenoid valve.

3a A heating: apparatus comprising-inseam v,bination a, water jacketed gaseous? wei -burner; means: for supplying. a mixture of gaseousfjuel under pressure. to said burnery-i-ncl-uding a 69m? pressor, ancelectricmotor ion-driving thencoim pressor; and. asupply pipeleadin'g to -the sue tion sideoi the compressor andhaving a, solenoid means for circulatingwater throughthewater jacket ofthe burner; includ 1 ing-inlei; and outlet connections leadilig toan-gi valve therein;

from said jacket; respectively; -and---means.-=forautomatically rendering the supply mew-rise inop- 1 erative-upon failureof 'the circulating-means,-said aut on at-icmeans embodying -apressure switoh consisting of apressure responsivemartcorrnectecl to, and responsive to variations in the pressure of the Water'- ing one ef' the --eenneetions and a switch par-t connected to be actuategl by the pressureresponsive-partand arranged incit cuitwith the motor; and" the-"solenoid part of the solenoid valve.

nee-menses .elzrem.

The foll w n reierences a en record" in file, f. h s... nat ntg.

comprising'airr embi r e-Bearer sesame 

